rethink bronx book 1122 web

8/9/2019 Rethink Bronx Book 1122 Web

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BXBRONX, MEET YOUR

WATERFRONT PLAN

SPRING 2011 SITE & ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS PLANNING

DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES & PLANNING

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

DUSP


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BXBRONX, MEET YOUR

WATERFRONT PLAN

SPRING 2011 SITE & ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS PLANNING

DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES & PLANNING

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

DUSP


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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This project benefited enormously from the engagement of various community members and public officialsin the Bronx and New York City. We would like to extend a sincere thank you to those who shared their

time and energy with us over the past several months. We hope that our ideas and proposals serve to

enrich the Bronx community and the Harlem River that we have grown so close to.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO:

Wilhelm Ronda, Director of Planning & Development, Office of the Bronx Borough President

Michael Marrella, Project Director, Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, NYC Department of City PlanningChauncy Young, Harlem River Working Group (HRWG)

Dart Westphal, Bronx Council on Environmental Quality (BCEQ); HRWGJerry Willis, National Parks Service Urban Greenway Program; HRWG

Karen Argenti, Bronx Council on Environmental Quality (BCEQ); HRWG

Sam Goodman, Office of Planning & Development, Office of the Bronx Borough President

For their generous support, thank you to the MIT Public Service Center and MIT Department of Urban

Studies and Planning.

For more information, please visit the project website:

http://bronx.mit.edu

© 2011 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Department of Urban Studies and Planning

School of Architecture + Planning

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA

dusp.mit.edu

BOOK TEAM

Rachel Blatt, Co-Editor

Stephen Kennedy, Design & Layout

Franny Ritchie, Co-Editor

Dominick Tribone, Copy Editor

Elizabeth Woods, Copy Editor

MIT PROJECT TEAM

Celina Balderas-Guzman

Rachel Blatt

Albert Ching

Jessica Fain

Stephen Kennedy

Laura Manville

Franny Ritchie

The views and ideas presented in this report are

those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect

the views or policies, nor should they be attributed

to any public officials, government agency or com-

munity organization In New York City or the Bronx.

All images unless otherwise noted are copyright to

the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Every effort has been made to ensure that non-MIT

images are either in the public domain, or that we have

complied with any copyright requirements found.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Daniel Tien Simon

Shoko Takemoto

Dominick Tribone

Elizabeth Woods

Jia (Judy) Zheng

Eran Ben-Joseph (Professor)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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6

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12

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1618

20

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38

54

68

86

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THE BRONX PRACTICUM

HARLEM RIVER HISTORY

INITIAL RESEARCH

METHODOLOGY& PRACTICE

EXISTING EFFORTS

& PLANS

PRIMARY THEMES:GREENWAY TO WATERWAY

ECO-PUNCTURE

TEMPORARY ACTIVATION

WATERFRONT ACCESS

INFRASTRUCTURE

ADAPTABILITY

BRONX, MEET YOUR

WATERFRONT PL AN

HBHIGH BRIDGE & DEPOT PLACE

MDMACOMBS DAM

P5PIER FIVE

LALINCOLN AVENUE

IMPLEMENTATION

& TOOLS

APPENDIX A:

MASTER PLAN

APPENDIX B.1-6:

INITIAL RESEARCH

APPENDIX C.1-6:

PRECEDENT PROJECTS


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THE BRONX PRACTICUMGOALS

IN 2011, THE SITE AND ENVIRONMENTALSYSTEMS PLANNING COURSE AT MIT’SSCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNINGEXAMINED FUTURE POSSIBILITIES OF

THE BRONX SIDE OF THE HARLEM RIVER WATERFRONT.

Tis report describes the issues to be addressed inthe design and planning of this part of the Bronxand presents the investigations and proposals forthe site that were prepared by student teams.

Tis course is part of a long-running series of siteplanning practica offered by MI’s City Designand Development group. Each year, the coursehas investigated and made proposals about currentplanning and city design issues in urban andrural settings. In recent years, the course has putforward ideas for various sites in okyo, Barcelona,Biloxi, and Boston. In each case, these proposalshave been based on serious field study followedby systematic exploration of designs for places,natural systems, alternative infrastructure, and

possible public activities.

Te teaching objectives of this course have been tointroduce students from a variety of backgroundsto issues in cities that can be addressed throughenvironmental planning, landscape architecture,and urban design, and to make the studentsconversant with the bodies of knowledge,techniques, and values that must be engaged inthese tasks.

Additionally, thanks to the interests of the localcommunity and public officials, there has alsobeen a wider civic objective attached to thepracticum. ypically, this objective has been tostimulate public understanding and debate about apertinent issue in that locale such as a major urbanplanning policy, siting choices for facilities, or the

design and location of a significant open spacesor infrastructure. Te final work of the course hasbeen published in public reports, on the Web, andin some cases has been the subject of exhibitions.

For the Bronx Practicum, the New York CityDepartment of City Planning, the Bronx BoroughPresident’s Planning Office and communityadvocates from the Harlem River Working Groupand the Bronx Council on Environmental Qualityassisted with compiling a briefing package for thecourse participants during the winter of 2010.

In February 2011, twelve graduate students andtheir professor visited the Bronx where theymet with stakeholders and community activists.Students gathered feedback from these stakeholdergroups and other planning professionals duringmidterm and final presentations.

Tis report details the context of this project andthe team proposals. First, the overall approachand themes are presented to establish a design

and planning framework for the Harlem River waterfront. Ten each of the teams’ individualproposals are described and illustrated. Te reportconcludes with some suggested implementationstrategies as well as references and resources.

Te ideas put forward in this report are whollythe product of the course’s activities, stimulatedby others in the Bronx and elsewhere who havethought about these same issues. Tus, while thesupport of the Planning Offices in New YorkCity and the comments and input of stakeholdershave been essential to create the Bronx, Meet YourWaterfront Plan, the views and ideas proposed hereare exclusively the responsibility of the class, itsstudents, and its faculty.

The eight-mile stretchof waterfront (green)

along the Harlem River

in the Bronx.

MIT project team

members on the 161st

Street Pedestrian

Bridge.


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HARLEM RIVERMORPHOLOGY

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HARLEM RIVER HISTORY

THE HARLEM RIVER WAS FORMED 18,000YEARS AGO BY THE LAURENTIDE ICE SHEET.UNTIL THE AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL AGE THERIVER MEANDERED WITH VARIATIONS IN

WIDTH AND DEPTH. OVER THE COURSE OFTHE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES SEAWALLS,BULKHEADS, AND LANDFILL WERE ALL USEDTO MAKE THE RIVER EASIER TO NAVIGATE

AND THE EDGES EASIER TO ACCESS. TODAY,THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE RIVER EDGE ISMAN-MADE.

One of the earliest manipulations of the river wasthe construction of the Macombs Dam in 1813.Tis was controversial because it prevented tradevessels from using the river, an issue that took onnew urgency with the opening of the Erie Canalin 1825. Ultimately the courts ruled in favor ofunimpeded navigable waters and the dam wasremoved.

Te next major development was the constructionof the Croton Aqueduct over the river in the late

1830s. Te complex water system brought fresh water from Westchester County to Manhattan andincluded the High Bridge to carry the pipe acrossthe Harlem River. Te High Bridge was completedin 1848 and is the oldest bridge in New York City. While its primary purpose was to move water,it also provided an additional pedestrian linkbetween Manhattan and the Bronx.

In the twentieth century, the river was dredgedand deepened to accommodate larger trade vessels.However, river traffic diminished in the 1920s as

the city reoriented toward land travel. Over thecentury, a series of rail and vehicle bridges werebuilt to connect Manhattan to the Bronx.

Although an Edward Hopper painting portraysthe Macombs Dam Bridge as a pastoral scene,the riverfront has primarily been a workingindustrial landscape. Fire insurance maps fromthe early twentieth century already show a tangled web of infrastructure, including rail lines andturnarounds, storage facilities, piers, and bridges.Many of the rail lines are still in use, though theyhave been supplemented by highway and roadinfrastructure. Storage continues to be a majoractivity in the area, though now mostly consumerself-storage. Te piers on the other hand have beenrendered largely obsolete.

In the late 20th and early 21st Centuries recreationhas increasingly become part of the Harlem Riverstory. Roberto Clemente State Park opened in1973 and currently sees over a million visitorsa year. Mill Pond Park opened in 2009 and has

been highly successful in its years of operation.Both parks have indoor and outdoor recreationfacilities that keep them active year-round. Severaladditional ideas for waterfront recreation accesshave been proposed by students and professionalsand are discussed further on page 17.

Te Bronx Practicum’s Harlem River Greenwayproposal seeks to find harmony between the river’snatural heritage, and industrial character, and theborough’s growing interest in recreational uses onthe waterfront.

The Harlem River is atidal estuary connect-

ing the Hudson and

East Rivers. A number

of streams feed the

river, though most of

these are now below

grade. The map on the

facing page shows

these streams, how

the river has changed

course over time, and

the current flood zones.

Macomb’s Dam Bridge

by Edward Hopper 1935


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Te Bronx is a gateway city. More than half of all Bronx residents arenot yet citizens. Te Highbridge neighborhood is home to a growing West African immigrant community and the West Bronx houses severalLatino communities from South America and the Caribbean.

Like the other boroughs, the Bronx has a vacancy rate lower than therest of the country. Most homes are rented (78%) and the Bronx has thelowest home ownership rate of the five boroughs. For nearly half of allresidents, rent consumes more than 35% of their monthly income.

Tere are 43 schools within half a mile of the Bronx’s Harlem Riveredge. Additionally, Highbridge is getting a new middle school nearthe base of the High Bridge itself. Tere are currently no local middle

schools in the area and students commute long distances to otherschools.

New York City provides daily bus service for a small percentage ofstudents, and the bus yard on the Harlem River serves schools farbeyond the immediate area. Easy access to the highway is important forthe bus yard. Because this land is publicly owned and is not a water-related use, this 6½ acre parcel may be easier to redevelop than otherson the waterfront.

Yankee Stadium is the Bronx’s primary attraction, and is mere blocksfrom the river. When the stadium moved one block north in 2009,the Yankees helped finance the conversion of its former site and severalsurrounding parcels into parkland. Te stadium reconstruction alsointroduced two new transit routes to the Harlem Riverfront. A newMetro North station at 153rd Street operates year-round and a ferrybrings Yankees fans from Lower Manhattan up the Harlem River to thestadium on game days.

HOUSING

IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES

SCHOOLS

NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BUS YARD

YANKEE STADIUM

INITIAL RESEARCH :SYNOPSISBX


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One third of Bronx land is parkland, mostly concentrated in PelhamBay Park, Van Cortlandt Park, and the Botanical Gardens. Teneighborhoods along the Harlem River have some of the worst access toparkland in the five boroughs. Mill Pond Park is very well used, and thesports fields at Macombs Dam Park are almost always booked.

Te South Bronx Cultural Corridor encompasses several neighborhoodsincluding the section of the Harlem River Waterfront in this report.Te Bronx Council on the Arts operates the Bronx Culture rolleythroughout this area with stops at local galleries, museums, and theatersBruckner Boulevard is the center of this growing arts community and is where many artists live, work, and display their creations.

Te Major Deegan Expressway follows the Harlem River for muchof its length and blocks access from the inland neighborhoods to the waterfront. Te Deegan was completed in 1956 and the land trapped

between the expressway and the waterfront was almost entirely devotedto industrial activity. Te highway separates residential from industrialuses, but also blocks residents from the water.

Tere is little natural edge to the Harlem River. Much of the edge isconcrete or corrugated steel. Tese perfectly vertical edges allow waterto flow very quickly through the river, making it very difficult for plantsand wildlife to survive. Te CSX freight rail line poses an additionalbarrier to on-water access for recreational activities.

Te Bronx sewer system includes several Combined Sewer Outflows(CSO) along the Harlem River. In storms and heavy rains excess streetrunoff mixes with raw sewage and overflows untreated into the river.One of the best ways to reduce the harmful effects of CSOs on waterquality is to reduce the stormwater flowing into the system in the initial20 minutes of a storm. Slowing the water down and detaining it for evena little while reduces the chances of outflow events and can dramaticallyimprove water quality.

THE SOUTH BRONX CULTURAL CORRIDOR

PARKLAND

MAJOR DEEGAN EXPRESSWAY

EDGE CONDITIONS

COMBINED SEWER OUTFLOWS

COLLECTED HERE ARE SOME OF THE

OBSERVATIONS STUDENTS MADE DURINGTHE INITIAL RESEARCH PHASE.

Research involved studies of such topics as Bronxdemographics, history, ecology, education, culturalassets, and regulations. Additional material fromthese investigations is in Appendices B.1-6.


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METHODOLOGY & PROCESS

Students used the responses from the formal

critique and meeting with the community to

develop more specific design strategies.

At the final presentation in Cambridge, the

students’ proposals were critiqued by faculty and

practitioners.

In March, representatives from the New York City

Department of City Planning, the Bronx Borough

President’s Office, and Columbia University came to

MIT to critique and provide feedback.

Back at MIT, the practicum researched case

studies and collected data about the site and

adjacent neighborhoods. Research topics included

prototype waterfront development patterns,

social characteristics, educational opportunities,

alternatives for infrastructure adaptation, and

economic development techniques. This phase

also enabled the creation of a database that was

available to the class as a whole.

In February, the MIT class visited the Bronx. This

trip gave students firsthand introductions to the

site, public officials, and relevant stakeholders.

INITIAL FIELD OBSERVATIONS

BACK AT MIT FINAL PRESENTATION IN CAMBRIDGE

PRODUCTION THEMATIC ANALYSIS

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Te students in Site and Environmental SystemsPlanning visited the Bronx in February of2011, where they met with community leaders,stakeholders, members of the Bronx BoroughPresident’s Office, and representatives from theNew York City Department of City Planning.Several city employees were present to give their

feedback at a midterm review in March, and a

group of students travelled back to the Bronx topresent to members of the community in April. At the completion of the project in May, theMI class returned to the Bronx to give finalpresentations to the Bronx Borough President’sOffice, community members, and the Departmentof City Planning.

On May 18th, students presented final proposals

to a room full of interested community members at

the Bronx Borough Courthouse. The following day,

they presented to the New York City Department of

City Planning.

Students returned to the Bronx to present their

ideas to members of the Harlem River Working

Group at the Highbridge Community Life Center.

Residents gave feedback on the proposals and did

a mental mapping exercise with MIT students.

FINAL PRESENTATION AT BRONX BOROUGH COUNCIL

MIDTERM PRESENTATION IN THE BRONX COMMUNITY MEMBERS LOOK AT PROPOSAL


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Mill Pond Park Plan

River front Urban Planning Studio, Columbia GSAPP Regatta Greenway, Thesis by Marie Damsgaard

High Bridge Restoration Project

Bronx-Grand Concourse Studio, Harvard GSD Harlem River Promenade Plan, Starr Whitehouse

High Bridge Cove Section, Starr Whitehouse

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EXISTING EFFORTS & PLANS

THE HARLEM RIVER WATERFRONT HASRECENTLY RECEIVED ATTENTION FROM THECITY, THE BOROUGH, SEVERAL CONSULTANTS,AND OTHER ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS.

Mill Pond Park, depicted in the upper left, wascompleted in 2010 with funds from the YankeeStadium redevelopment project. Te park includestwelve tennis courts, nine of which are coveredby a bubble in winter, waterfront walking pathsand viewing platforms, barbecues, and areas forinformal play. All stormwater is managed on-siteand a restored power station with a new green roofserves as a community center.

Te High Bridge Restoration Project, depictedtop right, is an ongoing renovation sponsored bythe City of New York. Te $55 million project isexpected to be completed in 2013, at which pointthe bridge will reopen a missing pedestrian linkbetween Manhattan and the Bronx. Plans alsocall for architectural lighting and programming toactivate the bridge over time.

A 2010 studio course at the Graduate Schoolof Architecture, Planning and Preservation(GSAPP) at Columbia University also tackledthe challenges of the Harlem River waterfront

in a studio in 2010. Te GSAPP project focusedon the area north of Roberto Clemente StatePark and included proposals for zoning, streetimprovements, and strategies for preparingproperties for redevelopment, and provided ideasfor industrial brownfield cleanup.

An undergraduate thesis by Marie Damsgaardat the University of Copenhagen proposed agreenway running along the length of the Bronx’sHarlem River waterfront.

A Harvard Graduate School of Design studioreimagined the Grand Concourse, with anemphasis on incorporating and reclaiming theconnection between the Concourse and the waterfront.

Most promisingly, the landscape architectsand planners at Starr Whitehouse prepared aschematic plan for a Harlem River Promenadeon a stretch of city-owned land just north of theHigh Bridge, with a proposed scheme for greening

and activating the space. Teir proposal includeda boathouse, with a deck and boat launch,demonstration garden, and a vegetated wetlandedge.

Renderings from

existing plans and

proposals displaya variety of visions

for the Harlem River

Waterfront.


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P I E R

5

W E T L A N D P A R K

S P E C

I A L H A

R L E M

R I V E R

W A T E R

F R O N

T D

I S T R I C T

L I N C O L N

A V E N U E W A T E R F R O

N T

H A R L E M

R I V E R

P R O M E N

A D E

D E P

O T P L

A C E

H I G

H B R I D

G E

Y A R D S

C O R

R I D O R

H I G H B R I D G E Y A R D S C O R R I D O R

M A C O M B S D

A M P

A R K - I

T P L A C E

M I L L P

O N D P

A R K

Yankee

Stadium

GatewayMall

High BridgePark

MacombsDam Park

FranzSigelPark

MullaylyPark

JoyceKilmerPark

HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FARMER’S MARKET

LINCOLNGALLERY

BRONX MUSEUM OFTHE ARTS

POST OFFICE

PREGONES THEATER

GAUCHO’S GYM

1

2

6

MillPondPark

ANDREW FREEDMANHOME

UNIONREFORM CHURCH OFHIGHBRIDGE

MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE CENTER

AFRICANDESI GNCONCEPTS, INC (KENTE CLOTH FESTIVAL)

HIGHBRIDGE VOICES PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL

HIGH BRIDGE

STEPS

HIGH BRIDGE WATER TOWER

BRONX COUNTY COURT

BRONX TERMINAL MARKET

ALLHAL LOWS SCHOOL

PS 91/ PS 11

THE HUB

NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL

PROPOSEDHOTEL

NEW

AFFORDABLE

HOUSING

PROPOSED

MIXED

USE

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MD

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BRONX, MEET YOUR

WATERFRONT PLAN

OUR MASTERPLAN FOR THE HARLEMRIVER GREENWAY PRESENTS A VISIONFOR HOW THE FOUR OVERARCHINGTHEMES – ECO-PUNCTURE, TEMPORARY

ACTIVATION, WATERFRONT ACCESS, ANDINFRASTRUCTURE ADAPTATION – MIGHTBE INTEGRATED INTO SPECIFIC CONTEXTSALONG THE WATERFRONT.

Trough targeted investments in particularlocations, the Bronx will see an expansion ofand compliment to the existing open spaces andactivity centers along the Harlem River in theBronx. A non-traditional waterfront greenway with new off-street pedestrian paths and improvedstreetscapes will connect the waterfront toinland destinations and to the surroundingneighborhoods. Tis series of connected butdiverse waterfront spaces responds to andcelebrates the infrastructure, culture, and historyof the area, and provides a unique waterfrontexperience for neighborhood residents and visitorsalike.

Our plan focuses on four sites along the waterfrontthat we feel have the greatest potential: the HighBridge, Macombs Dam, Pier Five, and Lincoln Avenue. Each of the four sites emphasizes differentthemes.

In the area around the High Bridge, theproposal builds on the momentum of the HighBridge restoration with suggestions of further

infrastructure and path improvements andtemporary activations to bring attention to thishistoric bridge.

Te area around Yankee Stadium and theMacombs Dam Bridge has undergone a lot ofchanges in connection with the new stadium. Newparking garages mean that the older waterfrontparking lots are less heavily used. Te proposalfor their redevelopment includes infrastructureadaptation through semi-permanent activationsand expanded public access to the water’s edge.

Pier 5 uses eco-puncture strategies to develop aspectrum of structured and natural recreationareas along the Harlem River. Te Pier 5 site hasa particular focus on environmental restoration,but also improves waterfront access and providesopportunities for temporary activation.

Finally, the terminus of Lincoln Avenue at theHarlem River edge provides an opportunity forenvironmental remediation while also making

an area that has been dominated by industrialinfrastructure accessible to people. Te plan seeksto involve the neighborhood’s burgeoning artistcommunity.

Each of the sites has a different focus, andemerged from individual contexts, but togetherthey integrate the four themes for a greenwayexperience with something for every user.

The full project brings

targeted improvements

to four locations along

the Harlem River.

Together they form the

Harlem River Greenway.

(SEE APPENDIX FOR A LARGER

VERSION OF THE MASTER

PLAN)

HB MD P5 LA

HIGHBRIDGE

MACOMBSDAM

PIERFIVE

LINCOLNAVENUE


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PRIMARY THEMES:

GREENWAY TO WATERWAY

FOUR PRIMARY THEMES DIRECT THEPROPOSED INTERVENTIONS ALONG THELENGTH OF THE RIVER.

ECO-PUNCTURETe river’s ecology can be improved by therepetition of a series of targeted improvementsdubbed “eco-puncture.”Like acupuncture, smallinjections (in this case, of wetland or marshhabitat) enhance the well-being of the entire river.Proposals include a new rubble-constructiongabion seawall, pocket wetlands, and small eco-islands under the Harlem River’s many bridges.

TEMPORARY ACTIVATIONS Activity on the waterfront can be catalyzed byencouraging residents to embrace the HarlemRiver as part of their neighborhood, rather thanviewing the water as a dividing line betweenboroughs. emporary activations can bringresidents of both boroughs to spaces that arecurrently overlooked, rehabilitating underused

portions of the waterfront and capitalizing oncurrent investments like the re-opening of theHigh Bridge.

WATERFRONT ACCESSGetting people to the water is at the very core ofthe project. Providing access means developingexisting and new routes between neighborhoodsand the river. Paths can be improved in terms ofconnectivity, safety, maintenance, and comfort.

INFRASTRUCTURE ADAPTABILITY All of the transformation sites incorporate formerindustrial spaces and all are faced with thechallenges of large-scale infrastructure like theMajor Deegan Expressway. Infrastructure canbe reconceptualized as a community asset, andproposals include innovative lighting under andaround bridges, tunnels, and highways; layering innew water cleaning machinery; and rethinking therole of parking lots.


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ECO-PUNCTURE

TACKLING EDGE CONDITIONS AND WATERQUALITY ISSUES ON THE HARLEM RIVER CANBE DONE INCREMENTALLY.

Te Bronx side of the Harlem River has a widevariety of land owners and stakeholders, rangingfrom industrial facilities to residential towers,and including private, municipal, regional, andstate owned property. Tere are also a variety ofedge treatments along different properties, furthercomplicating ecological restoration. A singular,comprehensive ecological approach to the HarlemRiver waterfront would be incredibly difficultto implement and generally impractical. On theother hand, this provides great opportunitiesfor experimenting with smaller transformations,ranging in scale from a few square feet to a fewacres. Proposed strategies are designed to be scaledup, starting with a pilot version in one locationand then applied in many locations along the river.

Te cumulative effect of a system of smallinterventions would allow the Bronx to retain

its working waterfront and avoid an expensiveproperty acquisition process, while also facilitatingthe regeneration of the water’s edge and of the water itself. Such a system would improve thequality of the Harlem River; would create aseries of landscapes hospitable to people andanimals alike; and would allow for educationalopportunities in an area with high numbers ofschool children.

ECO-ISLANDSTe struts of the bridges over the Harlem Rivercan be utilized to create small wetlands. Teseinaccessible locations would serve migratory birds

and other wildlife without any chance of humaninterference. Te inaccessibility of the eco-islandsalso makes them good spots for rhizofiltrationbeds, where hearty oysters are used to filter river water.

CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS Wetlands can be constructed to reduce flood risks,restore natural habitat, and manage stormwater. Wetlands constructed for stormwater managementare designed to remove pollutants from stormwaterrunoff via microbial breakdown, plant uptake,retention, settling, and absorption. Te dualfunction of detaining and naturally cleaningrunoff will reduce the chances of CSO events onthe Harlem River.

PARKING LOT ADAPTATIONTe paved expanses of parking lots generate highquantities of concentrated runoff. Strategiesfor adapting parking lots include shade trees,detention planters, and permeable paving.Te parking lots along the Harlem River near

Macombs Dam Bridge are excellent candidatesfor adaptation because they are used seasonally for Yankees Stadium patrons and could be convertedduring the off-season.

URBAN ECOLOGICAL-FINGERS A series of “urban eco-fingers”, green streetdesigns, connect the ecological improvements ofthe river upland into neighboring communities.Streetscape improvements along key corridors will treat stormwater where it falls on roadwaysreducing pressure on local storm sewers.

A new seawall design

reduces water speed,

allowing plants to grow

and in turn creates new

habitat for fish and

other wildlife.


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TEMPORARY ACTIVATIONS

PHYSICAL CHANGES CAN ONLY GO SO

FAR. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BEAUTIFUL WATERFRONT SPACES ALONG THEHARLEM RIVER, BUT THEY ARE CURRENTLYHARD TO REACH AND UNDERUTILIZED.PROGRAMMING CAN GENERATE INTEREST IN

THE WATERFRONT AND ENCOURAGE LOCALRESIDENTS TO THINK MORE POSITIVELYABOUT THE RIVER.

SUMMER SUNDAYS ON THE 149TH STREETBRIDGE would be a series that highlights the

diversity of the West Bronx and East Harlem andthe rich food traditions of local communities. Bylocating the event on the bridge, residents wouldbe encouraged to contemplate the water fromabove and to explore cross-borough connections.

BRING YOUR CHAIR TO THE HIGH BRIDGE DAY could be accomplished at virtually no cost. Tisevent focuses on the bridge as an attraction andencourages residents to stay and enjoy the views.

DANCING ON THE HIGH BRIDGE could be a

way to attract people to the bridge on summerevenings. Te High Bridge offers amazingnighttime views that deserve an audience. Avariety of events could be held catering to differenttastes on evenings throughout the summer:bachata, salsa, swing, drumming, and even azumba class.

MOVIES ON PIER 5 would be a low-cost evening

event that can attract an economically diverseaudience. Pier 5 is a great location for thisbecause there is plenty of open space for seating,an existing structure from which to project. Itis conveniently near the 149th St Bridge, severaltransit stops, and plenty of parking.

SHWEEB from Yankee Stadium would be a semi-permanent installation in an abandoned subwaytunnel by Yankee Stadium. A shweeb is basically arecumbent bicycle on a monorail. Te first shweeb

was built in New Zealand as a human poweredroller coaster, but it might also be used to getfrom place to place. Yankee Stadium is alreadya regional and national attraction. Introducingthe Shweeb to the tunnel is a way of activatingan underutilized space while adding a secondaryattraction that can be enjoyed in all seasons.

In sum, it matters less what the activationsare, and more about using programming in aninnovative way to bring the community together.Te Harlem River is something to rally around,

but not everyone will see the river in the same way.Some will see its possibilities for water sports, somefor the views, some for the activities on the water’sedge, and some for the economic opportunitiesthat go along with the greenway and waterfrontparks. Programming and temporary activationsare great ways to cater to specific groups in thecommunity and to encourage everyone to use the waterfront.

Bring Your Chair to

the High Bridge Day:

a no-cost activity that

celebrates the bridge

as a destination.


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AN URBAN WATERFRONT PATH IS BOTH A

MEANS TO AN END AND AN END IN AND OFITSELF.

Waterfront greenways can be used to get fromone place to the next, but are also destinationsfor recreational walking, running, biking, and

casual enjoyment of water views. Precedents showthat through relatively simple improvements infencing, lighting, and signage, pedestrian pathscan become safe, attractive, enjoyable spaces. Tepaths connecting to and from the greenway needto feel just as welcoming as the waterfront itself forthe recreational area to reach its full potential.

In connection with the reopening of the HighBridge, there is an opportunity to establish a

strong and clear connection to the waterfrontalong the historic Highbridge Stairs and atransformed Depot Place. Depot Place couldbecome a multi-modal route with space forpedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. From here thegreenway would connect north to the proposedboat launch area, Roberto Clemente State Park,

and the northern West Bronx.

Te greenway south from Depot Place would bea continuous off-street pedestrian and bicyclepath through the MA property to 161st Street,and onward to Mill Pond Park. Tere are limitedopportunities for inland connections in thissection but the existing pedestrian bridge overthe Major Deegan Highway is an asset to thisnetwork.

WATERFRONT ACCESSBX



Circulation around Mill Pond Park and the Yankee Stadium parking areas is confusing fordrivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Te intersectionof Sedgwick Avenue and the Macombs DamBridge can be simplified with a pedestrian andbicycle passage under the bridge, which wouldstrengthen the north-south greenway. A new

inland link in this area is the passageway betweenthe Metro North Station and Mill Pond Park. Tispath is direct but would be more appealing withan infusion of artwork, greenery, and lighting.

South of Mill Pond Park, a lack of available landmakes it is more difficult to continue the greenwayalong the river. Until land opens up, the greenwaycould turn inland, along either 149th or 138thStreets and then south along Lincoln Avenue backto the waterfront.

In the long run, it may be possible to work withproperty owners to develop pieces of waterfrontpaths that would link up to the greenway. Fencing would be an important aspect of these parts ofthe route on private land. Unique and interestingfencing can provide visual interest and restingplaces for pedestrians, while offering participating

property owners a secure barrier between theiroperations and the public space.

Te inland connections will make the HarlemRiver Greenway a more integrated urban paththan many other city greenways. It will provideconnections for Bronx residents to access the waterfront and offer visitors an opportunityto experience the Bronx’s transformingneighborhoods as well as its waterfront.

Unique destinations draw people to the waterfront and improved paths make gettingthere an enjoyable experience in and of itself.


26/91

TO MANY THE BRONX IS A PLACE OF PASSING

THROUGH, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THATFACILITATES THIS MOVEMENT PROVIDESBOTH CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

For a hundred years the Bronx side of the HarlemRiver has been a working waterfront. Teindustry that thrived here left the water pollutedand the soil contaminated, yet also providedgreater connectivity. Barges, then railroads, andfinally highway infrastructure have all providedeasy transportation access for Harlem Rivermanufacturers and wholesalers.

oday, the Major Deegan Expressway is thedominating structure on the waterfront. It followsthe Harlem River from its southward bend nearMarble Hill to where it joins the East River.Te highway cuts between the former industrial waterfront and residential communities in theupland areas. Te areas under the Deegan are rife with opportunities to develop innovative transitionzones with new lighting and artwork. Te Deeganalso collects vast quantities of stormwater that flowinto the Harlem River watershed. Partnershipsbetween local advocates and the Federal Highway Administration could produce innovativestormwater management pilot programs.

INFRASTRUCTURE ADAPTABILITYBX



Lighting and safety were frequent topics inconversations with local planners and communitymembers. Tere have been many innovationsin lighting technology in the last decade anddesigners are increasingly turning to lighting asa way to give a place distinction. Lighting thegreenway and pedestrian paths with colorful,interactive, or technologically advanced lighting will not only improve safety, but also make thegreenway visible from the river and the Deeganat night. Fun lighting is a great opportunity topromote the greenway to visitors and show off theproject to the city at large.

Each site transformation proposed in this reporttakes a multipronged approach to complexinfrastructure challenges. In several proposals,available underutilized space around infrastructureis activated as public space. In others, thestormwater impacts of infrastructure are theimpetus for developing and testing new mitigationtechniques. Infrastructure near the Harlem Riveris an accepted part of the site program; it is neverdesigned out of the project or rendered unusable.It is always treated as an exciting part of the SouthBronx landscape that provides opportunities forinnovation.

Te path under the Major Deegan is transformed into an open park space. A vertical garden walldirects the visitor’s path, provides a buffer from storage areas under the highway, and tackles the dual

environmental challenges of contaminated water and poor air quality associated with highways.


28/91

HB


29/91HIGH BRIDGE

HB

HIGH BRIDGE

& DEPOT PLACE

THE HIGH BRIDGE, NEW YORK CITY’S

OLDEST SURVIVING BRIDGE, IS SET TOREOPEN TO PEDESTRIANS IN 2013. THISIS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE STRONGER

CONNECTIONS TO THE WATER’S EDGE.

ALREADY THERE ARE PLANS DEVELOPING

TO RECONSTRUCT THE CRUMBLING HIGH

BRIDGE STAIRCASE AND TO DEVELOP A

WATERFRONT PROMENADE. OUR PROPOSALSUSE THESE DEVELOPMENTS AS A CATALYST

TO CREATE A HARLEM RIVER GREENWAY

BETWEEN ROBERTO CLEMENTE STATE

PARK AND MACOMBS DAM BRIDGE AND TO

STRENGTHEN UPLAND CONNECTIONS TO THE

HIGHBRIDGE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.


30/91

H A R L E M

R I V E R

P R O M E N A D E

D E P

O T P L

A C E

B R I D G E

Y A R D S

C O R R I D

O R

UNION REFORM CHURCH OF HIGHBRID

AFRICAN D

HIGHBRIDGE VOICES PERFORMIN

HIGH BRIDGE

STEPS

BRIDGE WATER TOWER

PS 91 / PS 11

NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL

2

HB


31/91HIGH BRIDGE

OVERVIEW

Te historic and majestic High Bridge is animportant focal point for the northern portionof the greenway. Currently, a steep slope andmajor transportation infrastructure block theneighborhood from having anything more thanvisual access to the water. Tis location will soonexperience major investments that will makethe Greenway possible. Te City is planning torenovate the High Bridge and its historic stonesteps, and a Harlem River Promenade is proposedto replace the several uninviting uses between theHigh Bridge and the southern edge of RobertoClemente State Park. Even with these majorinvestments over the next few years, there are anumber of changes to this area that will completethe greenway and strengthen connections to localHighbridge residents.

THE HIGH BRIDGE, NEW YORK CITY’S

OLDEST STANDING BRIDGE, IS A BEAUTIFULNEIGHBORHOOD ASSET THAT CONNECTSMANHATTAN AND THE BRONX.

Its tall masonry arches transform the surroundingindustrial waterfront, creating majestic spacesbeneath (where the archways intersect rail andhighway infrastructure) and an unparalleled viewof the Harlem River, the Bronx, and Manhattan

from above. Te dramatic topography of this siteis a challenge, but also an opportunity to createunique spaces for Bronx residents approaching andat the Harlem River.

Planned renovations of the High Bridge and itsstone steps will make it easier for residents to enjoythis asset. Additionally, a recent plan by Starr Whitehouse landscape architects presents a visionfor a Harlem River Promenade under the HighBridge, featuring a boathouse, greenhouse, andother spaces for active recreation. Our proposalsseek to strengthen connections between theBridge, the promenade, and the neighborhood.

Proposals at the bridge itself include a newlandscaping strategy for the stone steps, a newgateway into High Bridge Park at University Avenue and 170th St, and events to mark theopening of the bridge in 2013.

Additional ideas include changes to Depot Placeand Sedgwick Avenue that will improve access

to the waterfront and the creation of a north-south path along the MA rail yard that willestablish the waterfront greenway between RobertoClemente State Park and Macombs Dam Bridge.

(BELOW) View fromDepot Place of the High

Bridge, with the High

Bridge Water Tower

in Manhattan in the

background.


32/91

HB

HB.1HB.3

HB.5

HB.4

HB.2

HRP

50 f t 25 m

HB


33/91HIGH BRIDGE

CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOOD

TO WATERFRONT

HB.1 High Bridge ActivationsHB.2 High Bridge Plaza GatewayHB.3 High Bridge Stone Steps

HB.4 Sedgwick StreetscapingHB.5 Depot Place Pedestrian RampHB.6 Harlem River Greenway ConnectionHRP Harlem River Promenade HBMS Futur e High Bridge Middle School

HB.6

HBMS


34/91

HIGH BRIDGE STONE STEPS

Te High Bridge is a dramatic piece of infrastructure and architecture. A set of historic stone steps connects the bridge at the top of the ridge tothe riverfront at the base of this huge hill. Clearing out the underbrushand thinning out the trees will highlight the staircase and the elevationchange that makes the high arches of the High Bridge so necessary andimpressive.

HB

HB.3

HB


35/91HIGH BRIDGE


36/91

EXTERIOR

STREET

The proposed gateway at 170th

Street is reminiscent of the archways

of the High Bridge itself. This will

extend the visibility of the High

Bridge to visitors coming from the

Grand Concourse or subway stations.

HB.2

A dramatic elevation change

separates the High Bridge entrance

from the waterfront. Inviting and

clearly marked paths will make this

transition easier to navigate.

HB


37/91HIGH BRIDGE

HIGH BRIDGE PLAZA AND STAIRS

Te Bronx entrance to the High Bridge is not wellmarked. Visitors pass through High Bridge Park, asimply-designed sitting park that was renovated in2002. Te park sits at the intersection of Univer-sity Avenue and 170th Street, a direct route to thesubway, but the ramped park entrance is offsetalmost an entire block from the center of the parkand the bridge itself. Te park is popular, but sitslower than University Avenue, and thus suffersfrom low visibility which impedes evening use.

An arched entrance announcing the park at170th Street will make the entrance easier tosee and more appealing to access. On 170thStreet banners or changes in paving will indicateto visitors that they are approaching the HighBridge. Current improvements to the High Bridgeinclude construction of a handicapped accessibleramp to enter the bridge from the plaza, and

viewing stations at key points on the bridge. Terenovation celebrates the use of the bridge fromboth sides, and the plaza should evolve to servethis purpose.

Tis emphasis on use and cross-borough activityalso leads to proposals for temporary activations,including Salsa Night and Bring Your Chair tothe High Bridge Day. o further activate the areathe vegetation around the stone steps down toSedgwick Avenue will be trimmed back to allowclear views up and down the steep hill.

BY MAKING THE CONNECTION SAFER ANDEASIER TO FIND, WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES

AT THE HARLEM RIVER PROMENADE WILLDRAW VISITORS UP AND DOWN THE STAIRSBETWEEN THE BOATHOUSE AND GREENHOUSEAND THE HIGHBRIDGE VIEWS.

(BELOW) This 1886drawing shows the

High Bridge Stairs

without the overgrown

landscape that

currently surrounds

them. Clearing out the

tangled vegetation

will create a dramatic

vision from Manhattan

and make legible the

connections between

the bridge and Harlem

River waterfront

activities.

(BELOW, RIGHT) Salsa

Night on the bridge is

an extremely low-cost

event that could attract

residents of the High

Bridge and Washington

Heights neighborhoods.

HB.1


38/91

HB.6

HB.6HB


39/91HIGH BRIDGE

DEPOT PLACE

PEDESTRIANS WHO REACH THE BOTTOM OFTHE HIGH BRIDGE STAIRS ARE CURRENTLYGREETED BY SPACES INHABITED BY FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC AT ALL HOURS OF THE

DAY. PROPOSED CHANGES WILL MAKE THISAREA A MORE APPROPRIATE ENTRANCE TO A WATERFRONT PARK.

Sedgwick Avenue, which parallels the expressway,is currently unfriendly to pedestrians. Tere areno places to cross safely and only a few narrowsidewalks. Adding a visible crosswalk will improvethe transition between the High Bridge andHarlem River.

Depot Place has more space for vehicles than isreally needed. By removing the informal parkingand adding lane markings, Depot Place couldeasily accommodate its current low levels of traffic,a wide bike lane, and a sidewalk.

Depot Place widens as it curves south, whichallows boat trailers and other vehicles to access thepromenade. For those walking, a shortcut ramp will wind down to the promenade from the top ofthe Depot Place helix. Te ramp will extend brieflyover the water and is intended to be a whimsicaland water-focused way down to river level.

(ABOVE) New sidewalks

and crosswalks make

it safe and pleasant to

cross Sedgwick Avenue.

(LEFT) A widened pedestrian and bicycle path hugs

the northern edge of Depot Place. Though the

path curves south to join the greenway, a northern

connection could also be added to facilitate

connections to the Harlem River Promenade and

Roberto Clemente State Park.

HB.3

HB.5

(OPPOSITE) There are twopossible routes for the

greenway going south

from Depot Place. The

top image is of the ideal

waterfront route. The

second is the alternate

route between the MTA

property and the Major

Deegan Expressway.


40/91

MD


41/91M AC OM B’S DAM

MD

MACOMBS

DAM

NEW PARKING GARAGES AT YANKEESTADIUM GIVE THE BOROUGH A CHANCETO RETHINK OLDER WATERFRONT

PARKING LOTS.

NEW TRANSIT SERVICES AND PARKING

GARAGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE YANKEE

STADIUM RECONSTRUCTION HAVE RENDERED

OLDER SURFACE LOTS LESS IMPORTANT.

ADDITIONALLY, THE AREA AROUND THE

STADIUM IS CONFUSING AND DANGEROUS

TO PEDESTRIANS AND CARS ALIKE. BY

SIMPLIFYING CIRCULATION PATTERNS

AND RETHINKING THE NATURE OF PARKINGAROUND YANKEE STADIUM, THE MACOMBS

DAM PARK-IT PLACE RECONFIGURES AN

OLD WATERFRONT SURFACE LOT AS SOCIAL

SPACE, ULTIMATELY CREATING BET TER PATHS

TO BETTER PLACES.


42/91

H I G H B R I D G E Y A R D S C O R

R I D O R

M

A C O M B S D

A M P

A R K - I

T P L A C E

M I L L P

O N D P

A R K

YankeeStadium

GatewayMall

MacombsDam Park

FranzSigelPark

MillPondPark

PROPOSED

HOTEL

4

BD

2

MD



OVERVIEW

Midway along the Harlem River is a collectionof citywide and regional amenities: YankeeStadium, the Gateway Center, and Mill PondPark. Yankee Stadium is the Bronx’s most popularvistor attraction, with upwards of 50,000 peopleattending each game. Even though the GatewayCenter and Mill Pond Park are more localattractions, the park’s covered tennis courts arefrequented by high schools and university teamsfrom around New York City.

BECAUSE THIS AREA ALREADY HAS SO MANY

VISITORS, IT IS A PERFECT ANCHOR FROM WHICH TO EXPAND RECREATION ALONG THE WATERFRONT.

Te Yankee Stadium reconstruction recentlybrought many changes to the area between 149thand 161st Streets, including several new parkinggarages, a new Metro North station at 153rdStreet, and ferry access between Lower Manhattan

and Mill Pond Park. Tese developments havemade it much easier for visitors to get to and fromthe stadium and reduced demand for parking.

Few remaining surface parking lots are stillpopular for game day tailgating. Just north ofMill Pond Park is a lot on New York City Parksand Recreation land that is tucked beneath atangle of on- and off-ramps for the Major DeeganExpressway. In our proposal the lot is activatedyear-round as the Macombs Dam Park-I Place –part parking lot, part marketplace, and part park.

Along with this design the routes betweenthe lot and nearby destinations are simplifiedand redesigned. New paths are already beingestablished between the ferry, train station, andstadium. All of these routes are ready for morepermanent and inviting designs.

Existing surface

lots can be easily

reconfigured to create

appealing areas

for tailgating while

reducing impervious

surfaces.


44/91

EXTERIOR STREET LIGHTING

Exterior Street is transformed from an unwelcoming throughway into avibrant transitional space by engaging local artists to draw on the site’shistory through painting, signs, and colorful new netting underneath theMajor Deegan Expressway.

MD.5

MD


46/91

MD.1

CURRENT CIRCULATION PATTERNSAROUND THE MACOMBS DAM BRIDGEARE COMPLICATED AND UNINTUITIVE FOR

PEDESTRIANS AND DRIVERS ALIKE. WHATFEW PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES EXIST ARE

TREATED AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

Trough a series of targeted improvements, thistangle of abandoned paths can become part of alarger greenway. In our proposal, the visual lan-

guage of Mill Pond Park is extended between the161st St. Pedestrian Bridge and the 153rd StreetMetro North Station. Most of the route needs only

simple material changes and improved lightingand maintenance to be an attractive path. Te nextfew pages detail the points at which investment will yield the greatest return. Any of improvements would make a difference if implemented indi-vidually, but taken together they will have a hugeimpact on the walkability and safety of the area.

IMPROVING CIRCULATION

MD.1 Harlem River Greenway ConnectionMD.2 Highbridge Yards Corr idor

MD.3 Macombs Dam Pedes trian Ramp

1 MD.2

M

MD



4

5

6

Vehicular Traffic

Pedestrian Traffic

Pedestrians have to cross three times to travel

north or south along Sedgwick Avenue at the inter-

section with the Macombs Dam Bridge.

Existing circulation is confusing and

favors vehicles over pedestrians.

MD.4 Park-IT PlaceMD.5 Exterior Street Improvements

MD.6 Harlem River Greenway Connection

MD.4 Park-IT PlaceMD.5 Exterior Street Improvements

MD.6 Connection to Metro North Stat ion

MD.4

MD.5

MD.6


48/91

A SLIVER OF PARK

Tere are few places to cross the Major DeeganExpressway. One rare pedestrian-only crossingexists at 161st Street. Tis connects to a sliver ofparkland sunk between the highway and rail lines. An existing path passes through this space, but itis unlit and poorly maintained.

ADDING A MORE INVITING PATH WOULDIMPROVE CONNECTIVITY AROUND THE ENTIRENEIGHBORHOOD.

A well-maintained multi-use path allows pedestri-ans and joggers to travel north and south without

MD.1

Thick plantings greet visitors stepping

off of the 161st Street Pedestrian

Bridge into the linear park between

the Major Deegan Expressway andMTA rail yard.

MD



encountering the confusing traffic patterns onSedgwick Avenue where sidewalks are narrow ornonexistent and traffic speeds are high.

Creating safe, attractive spaces for pedestriansdoes not have to be complicated or expensive. Bymimicking the style of path and lighting used in

the nearby Mill Pond Park, residents and visitors will experience a coherent, continuous path alongthe water that is separate from automobile traffic. While the path’s proximity to the Major Deeganposes a challenge, adequate vegetation can sub-stantially reduce air and noise pollution.

MD.2

This sliver of parkland is treated with

the same materials as in Mill Pond

Park: red asphalt paving, wooden

benches, and modern lighting.


50/91

MACOMBS DAM BRIDGE

Te pedestrian crossing on the Bronx side of theMacombs Dam Bridge currently necessitates threeseparate crossings to get across two lanes of traffic.Each crossing requires the pedestrian to wait fora signal, so that the entire experience can takeminutes for what ought to take less than thirtyseconds. Te construction of a pedestrian rampprovides a safe, direct, and highly visible method

for residents and visitors to travel north and southacross Macombs Dam Bridge.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AN EXISTING

BUT INCOMPLETE SIDEWALK, THE RAMPALLOWS PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS TOAVOID THE COMPLICATED AND DANGEROUSINTERSECTION ON MACOMBS DAM BRIDGE.

MD.3

The dangerous Macombs Dam Bridge

crossing is improved by adding a

pedestrian and bicycle underpass

below the bridge.

(OPPOSITE) The Greenway continues

into the Macombs Dam Park-IT Place

that activates a parking lot that is

empty most days of the year

MD



PARK-IT PLACE

Te Harlem River Greenway passes from theproposed Macombs Dam Bridge Underpassthrough the Macombs Dam Park-I Place andon to Mill Pond Park. Te parking lot is currentlyan all-or-nothing place, either full of tailgaters orcompletely empty. Most of the year, it is the latter.Te Park- I Place aims to rectify that by creating

a multipurpose space, enjoyable year-round for alltypes of visitors.

CREATING AN EXCITING EVERYDAY FOOD

EXPERIENCE WILL ATTRACT VISITORS TO STAYAROUND ENJOY THE WATERFRONT.

MD.4


52/91

PARK-IT PLACE

Te Macombs Dam Park-I Place incorporatesa diverse program on a complex site. Right nowit is a blank slate, a more-or-less empty expanse

of asphalt. Four aspect of the project combine tomake this a unique place unlike any other in theBronx or the city.

POCKET WETLAND At the northern edge of site, under the entranceramp from the Deegan into the lot, a pocket wetland replaces parking spaces. Te spaces here were difficult to navigate and the least desirableparking spots in this lot. Te pocket wetlandserves to clean the rain water that collects in the

parking lot before releasing it into the HarlemRiver. Not only is total impervious surface areareduced, but all stormwater can then be managed

on-site. A network of walking trails will also makethis a pleasant recreational space.

PARKING LOTPark-I Place offers a great setting for tailgating with ample space to maneuver and set upequipment. Users could be charged a premium toparticipate in game day festivities, but the rest ofthe time – when the site would otherwise sit empty– the neighborhood can use it for short-termrecreation.

Redesigned surface parking lots integrate ecological features, reducerunoff and accommodate cultural and commercial uses.

MD



FOOD TRUCK COURTTe marketplace aspect of the project takes theform of a food truck court. Currently, the routes

between transit and the stadium encourage visitorsto eat at the game. Not only is this costly, buttransit users are also discouraged from visitingthe waterfront and participating in tailgating. Tefood truck court provides options for those whoare not grilling themselves to join in the tailgatingexperience. A patio area with ample seating andpleasant plantings encourage visitors to enjoy

the river. On the 284 days of the year when the Yankees aren’t playing at home, this can still bean active place. Mill Pond Park and the Gateway

Center are even closer than the stadium and thereare limited options for food in the area.

BOATINGTere are no places to get on the water at MillPond Park. By enclosing the inlet with a net,bumper or paddle boats could be brought in forthe enjoyment of children and adults alike.


54/91

EXTERIOR STREET

Exterior Street, below the Major Deegan Express- way, connects the Gateway Center with Mill PondPark. Gateway Center mall opened in 2009 andincludes several big-box retailers with a few smallerstores and restaurants. Te shopping center is ori-ented around a central court and completely turnsits back on Exterior Street, and by extension onMill Pond Park and the Harlem River. As ExteriorStreet is the only way to access Mill Pond Park, itis important that is a bright and inviting street.

BY ADDING LIGHTING, IMPROVED SIGNAGE,AND NEW PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES,EXTERIOR STREET FEELS LIKE A VIBRANT ANDIMPORTANT PUBLIC SPACE RATHER THE BY-

PRODUCT OF OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE.

Te underside of the Major Deegan Expresswayis covered in black fabric that prevents pigeonsfrom nesting below the highway. Te materialis functional, but not beautiful. Local artists

MD.5

Local artistry brighten Exterior Street

with colorful designs for the netting

under the highway.

MD



would be invited to create colorful designs to bepainted on the nets. Exterior Street was also oncelined with murals relating to the Bronx erminalMarket and a few well-restored murals remain.Combined with new artwork along the route andon the nets above, these will enhance this street asa vibrant link on the Harlem River Greenway andencourage use of Mill Pond Park.

An additional pedestrian connection off ofExterior Street to the 153rd Street Metro NorthStation further enhances access to the water.Currently an afterthought, this path could becomean attractive means of directing people towards theriver through artwork that celebrates rather thanignores the surrounding infrastructure. Extendingthe material choices of Mill Pond Park here willalso contribute to a continuous visitor experience.

MD.6

Lighting, greenery, and murals will

make the path between Mill Pond

Park and the Metro North Station

more pleasant.


56/91

P5


57/91P IE R F IV E

P5PIER FIVE

PIER 5 REPRESENTS THE CITY’S MOST

IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITY AREA .

THE CURRENTLY VACANT PIER CONNECTS TO

MILL POND PARK. IN OUR PROPOSAL, PIER 5AND THE SITE IMMEDIATELY SOUTH OF THE

149TH STREET BRIDGE ARE CONVERTED INTO

PARKLAND. THE NEW PARKS, PLUS A MORENATURAL WATERFRONT EDGE, WILL IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND REINTRODUCE WILDLIFE

TO THE HARLEM RIVER.


58/91

P I E R

5

W E T L A N D P A R K

S P E C I A

L H A R L E M R I V E R W A T E R F R O N T D

I S T R

I C T

M A C O M B S D

A

M

I L L P

O N D P

A R K

GatewayMall

FSP

HOST

PREGONES THEATER

GAUCHO’S GYM

MillPondPark

BRONX TERMINAL MARKET

PROPOSED

HOTEL

3

4

5

2

2

P5


59/91P IE R F IV E

OVERVIEW

PIER 5 IS AN EMPTY LOT JUST SOUTH OF MILLPOND PARK. IT IS OWNED BY THE CITY ANDHAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A FUTUREDEVELOPMENT SITE.

Originally included in the plans for Mill PondPark, Pier 5 was eliminated from the project whenremediation costs rose higher than expected. Tebelated development of this site offers the city anopportunity to extend the park while creating adifferent type of visitor experience. In this way Pier5 becomes part of the Harlem River Greenwayand part of a continuum of park spaces rangingfrom highly programmed at Mill Pond Park to avery natural in a reconstructed wetland just southof the 149th St. Bridge, on the site of the BronxRecycling Center.

o improve the river’s water quality, CombinedSewer Outflow (CSO) event mitigation strategiesare incorporated throughout the Pier 5 and BronxRecycling Center designs. Te Bronx experiencesup to seventy CSO events a year, dumpingsewage and contaminated stormwater into theHarlem River and other waterways. Highwayrunoff exacerbates CSO problems and the MajorDeegan Expressway’s runoff flows directly intothe combined sewer system and the Harlem River.On Pier 5 some highway runoff will be collected,filtered, and used on-site. On the other side ofthe bridge, the wetland will naturally filter largerquantities of water before releasing it to the river.

Mill Pond Park currently

ends abruptly at Pier 5

because the site’s soil

contamination was toocostly to remediate

during the park’s

construction. A single

crane remains on the

site as a remnant of the

property’s industrial

past. An incremental

remediation and

redevelopment scheme

is proposed for Pier 5.

(RIGHT) The Bronx

Recycling Center is on

city-owned property

and could more easily

be acquired for redevel-

opment than privately

owned sites.

(FAR RIGHT) Stormwater

runoff from the Major

Deegan flows out of

these large pipes and

across the sidewalk to

the city sewer drains.


60/91

GABION EDGES

P5.1

P5


61/91P IE R F IV E

Gabions, arranged in a stepped down pattern will create new habitat for wetland plants and make the river a more hospitable home to wildlife. Atthe same time, they allow for more direct human access to the waterfront.


62/91

P5.4

P5.3

P5.1

P5.2

P5.5

P5.6

P5.3

P5


63/91P IE R F IV E

PROJECT ELEMENTS

P5 .1 Greenway & Boardwalk PathsP5 .2 Comfort Stat ion

(uses cleaned runoff water)

P5.3 Spray ParkP5.4 Crane & StageP5 .5 Runoff Cleaning Pilot ProjectP5. 6 Pocket Wetland & Nature PreserveP5.7 Eco-Island

P5.6


64/91

P5


65/91P IE R F IV E

IMPROVING WATER QUALITY

The green squares

on the plan for an

eco-island (BOTTOM) are

filled with plants in a

suspended wetland

patch(BELOW)

.

(OPPOSITE) Boardwalksalong the gabion edges

allow visitors to get

close to the wetland

landscape.

(BELOW RIGHT) The larger

pool on the eco-island

is enclosed below the

surface with a net for

rhizofiltration.

Pier 5 is envisioned as a place to test water-quality improvement strategies. Tis includesstrategies related to the shoreline, the bridgestruts under the nearby 149th Street Bridge,and the Major Deegan Expressway.

Tere is currently a smooth seawall along mostof the Harlem River shoreline, which results infast moving water along the edges that is notoptimal for plant and animal health. Water

quality in the river is decent but improvement would lead to a more hospitable habitat.It is suitable for boating but not yet fit forswimming.

A NEW SEAWALL SYSTEM WILL SLOW WATER SPEEDS AND CREATE PLACES FOR

RECREATION AT THE WATER’S EDGE.

Te proposed system consists of rubblegabions, rectangular cages filled with fragments

of concrete and other building materials.Tese are often used in retaining walls and will serve the same purpose here. Rather thansimply stacking them into a wall, the gabionsare arranged in an undulating pattern alongthe riparian edge to disperse wave motionand slow water speeds. Te gabions will also

provide surfaces from which wetland plantscan grow, which in turn will provide habitatfor fish and other animals.

Te gabion seawall can also support paths that will allow visitors to get much closer to the water than they are currently allowed. Sincethe Harlem River is tidal, the water level willrise and fall creating a constantly changingenvironment for wildlife and park visitors.

Tis proposal could be implemented anywherealong the river but has been suggested as apilot program on Pier 5.

THE SUPPORTS OF THE HARLEM RIVER’SFOURTEEN BRIDGES CAN BE TURNED INTO

WATER CLEANING “ECO –ISLANDS.”

While visually appealing from shore, theprimary purpose of the mini-wetland eco-islands will be to filter river water and provide

additional habitat for wildlife. Anotherfeature of the eco-island is rhizofiltration, theuse of oysters to improve water quality. Inother cities, rhizofiltration has run up againstthe “attractive nuisance” problem of peopleattempting to harvest and eat the oysters.Placing these oysters in such an inaccessiblelocation eliminates that risk.

P5.7


66/91

MANAGING MAJOR DEEGAN

EXPRESSWAY STORMWATERP5

Te Major Deegan Expressway generates highvolumes of stormwater. At present, all the water isfunneled off the highway, down thick pipes, andacross the Exterior Street sidewalk to storm drains.From there it mixes with the sewer system andenters the river through CSOs along the river edge.Te highway collects so much water that whenit rains, the sidewalk below becomes impassible.Several pilot projects on Pier 5 will help managethe vast quantities of stormwater coming from thehighway.

RAIN BARRELSLarge, monumental rain barrels will collect andstore water from the highway, and in the processfilter out debris and impurities. o create a sense of

place, the rain barrels could be decorated by localartists or be redecorated regularly by an artist-in-residence.

COMFORT STATION AND SPRAY PARKTe water collected in the barrels will then passthrough further purification and be recycled ina comfort station and spray park in the centerof Pier 5. A municipal water hookup will supplyadditional water during high demand periods.

Most importantly, the spray park will serve youngfamilies of the West Bronx and East Harlemevery summer. Tere are many children in theseneighborhoods and the nearest pool is more than20 blocks north, on the Manhattan side of the

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High Bridge. A spray park will be a great additionto the other park features and the additionalcomfort station will not add strain to the existingrestrooms in Mill Pond Park.

POCKET WETLANDTe property south of the 149th Street Bridge iscurrently a recycling center for building materials. Although it is a private business, the land is ownedby the City. Te Major Deegan hems in theproperty and makes it unsuitable for most types ofdevelopment. However, it is an ideal opportunityfor additional park space and an innovativeenvironmental pilot program.

Creating a wetland on this six acre parcel will notonly address the area’s environmental challenges,

but will also introduce a new type of outdoorenvironment to the borough. Tere are precedentsfor wetland water filtration systems, and for urbanpocket wetlands, but the two have rarely beencombined. Tis pocket wetland on the HarlemRiver will filter stormwater runoff from the MajorDeegan during rainy periods and could filter river water during drier times of the year. Te naturallandscape will attract migratory birds and visitors will be able to observe them from a bird blind atthe center of the site. A system of boardwalks, ariver walk, and interpretive signage throughout the wetland will make the park accessible for all agesand fitness levels and connect to the Harlem RiverGreenway. In winter the shallow streams throughthe wetland will be great for ice skating.

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(OPPOSITE) Stormwater is collected

from the Major Deegan Expressway,

filtered and cleaned, and then used

in a spray park and comfort station.

These features will make Pier 5 a

summer destination.

(RIGHT) The Bronx Recycling Center is

replaced by a stormwater treating

wetland. Visitors can enjoy the

natural landscape year round,

birdwatching in the summer and ice

skating in the winter.


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Pier 5 needs significant remediation. Because the City ownsthe property there is an option to treat this as a remediationlab to test a variety of low-cost remediation strategies that canbe applied to other brownfields around the city.

Te remediation process could also be used as an educationalprogram. Te site could be used by the nearby HostosCommunity College or another group for green jobdevelopment and training.

PHYTOREMEDIATION GARDEN BEDS

In the first phase, earth from along the seawall is excavatedand used to create raised garden beds where differentphytoremediation plants are tested.

PHASED REMEDIATION:A MODEL FOR INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENT

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SEAWALL RECONSTRUCTION

In the second phase, the excavated portion of the site isreconstructed with a gabion seawall, which will grow into asmall wetland. Te raised phytoremediation beds will havecleaned the soil. At this point the soil can be moved fairlyeasily and spread out or continue to be used

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